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Taste 'pesticos' (Portuguese tapas) in Santiago de Compostela, capital of Spain's Galicia region and famous for marking the end of the Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail. Discover the proud fish-mongering heritage of the port city of Vigo. Step across the border to uncover the flavours of Portugal, featuring African, Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern influences thanks to centuries of invasion and trade. Sip your way around the Douro Valley, a stunning region responsible for introducing the world to port wine, and enjoy a home-cooked dinner and a farmstay in the Alentejo region – fast gaining a reputation as a hotspot for Portuguese gastronomy. Finish up with glass of Ginjinha (wild cherry liqueur) in the charming city of Lisbon.

Why you'll love this trip

Discover why Alentejo is Portugal’s best kept foodie secret on a farmstay

Stand around with the Lisbon locals and enjoy a tipple of cherry liqueur

Is this trip right for you?

This trip aims to give you an exciting, diverse and well-rounded culinary experience. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. If you have dietary requirements, simply contact your agent at the time of booking for further information on how this may impact on your ability to take part in included activities and meals. Come with an open mind and open mouth, and you won’t be disappointed!

There are a few longer travel days (up to 4-5 hours), but these give a great chance to soak in the Portuguese scenery and get to know your fellow travellers a little better.

Summer temperatures in the areas visited can be very high (up to 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same sex. If you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge. Please ask your travel consultant for more details, and please note that in some hotels a single supplement exclusion applies where single rooms are not available.

Gallery

Itinerary

Hola! Welcome to Santiago de Compostela, the capital of northwest Spain’s Galicia region. The city is famous for being the final destination on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. You can arrive at any time during the day, as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. Please check with hotel reception or look on the reception noticeboard for where and when the meeting will take place. If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. Have your insurance and next of kin details on hand as we'll be verifying them at this meeting. After your welcome meeting, get to know your fellow travellers over a traditional Galician meal. For seafood lovers, pulpo a la gallega is highly recommended.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Travel to Vigo on a morning train, leaving around 8:30am and arriving an hour later. The vibrant city of Vigo is found on the banks of the Ria de Vigo (Vigo Bay), one of the most important bays in the Rias Baixas region. Not surprisingly, the city has a proud fishing history, with a rich bounty of seafood at its fingertips. The city is one of Europe's most important producers of shellfish. Take a ferry ride to a seafood market, then take part in a Galician cooking class, culminating in a delicious lunch. In the late afternoon, you will be transferred over the border and into Portugal. Arrive in the charming city of Porto by evening (approximately 1.5 hours) and enjoy a free evening to explore.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Vigo - Fish Market Tour and Cooking Class

Meals Included

Stretching along the banks of the River Douro, Porto is one of Portugal's most romantic cities. Known for majestic bridges, medieval riverside district with its cobbled streets, merchants’ houses and cafes, Porto is also well known for one more thing; surprise surprise – Porto is the birthplace of the fortified wine, port. Start your day with coffee and pastries on a guided food walk. Sample local specialties including bacalhau and finish with a sip of the city's namesake drop. The afternoon is free to enjoy. Perhaps pull up a chair in one of Porto's atmospheric tavernas.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Porto - City Tasting Tour

Meals Included

Enjoy a full-day tour of the Douro Valley. See the beautiful landscapes of the Duoro River region on a relaxing drive around the villages of Sabrosa and Pinhao, home to the stepped terraces and vineyards where port is made. Visit two wineries, learn about port production and enjoy a tasting or two of this signature wine of the region. Enjoy a lunch at a traditional restaurant before returning to Porto in the late afternoon.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Douro Valley Day Trip

Meals Included

Travel south to Lisbon by train (approximately 3 hours), then take a private vehicle to an agriturismo located near Arraiolos in the Evora district (approximately 1.5 hours). Surrounded by undulating wheat fields dotted with grazing cows, this is the perfect way to experience the Alentejo. This area is renowned for its cork plantations, vineyards and celebrated products, including the coveted Azaruja sausage, made from black Alentejo pigs (more commonly known as Iberico pigs in Spain). Perhaps take a pre-dinner walk around the property, then enjoy local hospitality with a farm-cooked dinner.

Accommodation

Farmstay (1 night)

Included Activities

Alentejo - Farm-cooked Meal

Meals Included

Wake early and enjoy a tour of the agriturismo's on-site distillery and small cheese-making facility. Then take a trip to the UNESCO-listed city of Evora, capital of the Alentejo region. Marvel at the ancient Roman Temple of Évora and the Cathedral of Évora, a massive Gothic structure begun in the 12th century. Continue on to Lisbon, arriving by early evening. Toast your arrival with a glass of the city's favourite cherry liqueur.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Evora - Day Trip

Meals Included

Get acquainted with this beguiling city on an orientation walk. Along the way, stop in at one of the city's iconic eateries for a tasting of (arguably) the country's best Portuguese custard tarts. Celebrate this final night of your Food Adventure with dinner accompanied by fado, a genre of Portuguese soul music that originated from Africa and has evolved to suit the streets of Lisbon. The show will be accompanied by petiscos, Portugal's answer to tapas!

Important notes

A single supplement is available on this trip with exception of Day 5 (Farmstay).

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.